Economics & Finance / Economic Theory / Public Economics

Why Removing Ethics from Economics Destroys Nations: Christian Ethics & Political Economy

Christian Ethics and Political Economy: Markers for a Developing South Africa

Morten Bøsterud, Jan C.M. Venter

Think economics is just cold, hard math? Think again. This video unpacks the explosive argument from the book *Christian Ethics and Political Economy: Markers for a Developing South Africa*, edited by Morten Bøsterud and Jan C.M. Venter. We dive into why ignoring morality in money management literally tears societies apart, using South Africa—the world's most unequal nation—as a case study. From the failure of welfare traps and predatory banking to the hidden cost of sexism in the boardroom and the power of trust as an invisible currency, we reveal how ethics isn't a nice add-on—it's the engine of a functioning economy. Discover why Adam Smith's 'invisible hand' actually requires empathy, how grassroots moral codes created a middle class from scratch, and why our modern system might be Rome on the eve of collapse. This isn't a sermon—it's a brutal look at the math that proves morality matters.